Ledford coach pleased with number of players

If there's anybody in Davidson County that can challenge North Davidson for numbers of players on a roster, it's Ledford.

The Panthers had 80 players on the field for the first day of practice, a number Ledford coach Chris Adams finds pleasing even if that's slightly down from last year.

He doesn't think it has anything to do with the opening of Oak Grove High School. Oak Grove, though starting with only freshman and sophomores, is taking students from Ledford and North.

"We had 28 seniors last year," Adams said. "That's a big senior class. That's why the number is down a little bit. But 80 is a good number."

And he likes what he sees.

"We've gotten off to a good start. The kids have been working real hard. Just picking right off from what we've been doing all summer."

Ledford is coming off a successful 2016 during which the Panthers were 9-4 and reached the second round of the 3-A state playoffs.

But now they're a 2-A school once again thanks to realignment after eight years in the 3-A Mid-Piedmont Conference. That means a return to Ledford's roots - the Central Carolina Conference.

"We're excited about it like everybody is," Adams said. "I think we're all excited about having those natural rivalries. It's a change for us. Instead of playing those games in weeks 1, 2, 3, or 4, we're playing them later in the season. It'll be a challenge every Friday night."

Ledford, Central Davidson, North Davidson and South Rowan are the CCC's new members.

While the Panthers don't have North's 105 players, they have enough as the county's second largest school to two-platoon and field the depth necessary to challenge North's role as the conference favorite. A trio of standout players - Coleman Reich, David Wetherington and Robert Little - give Adams confidence. Reich has received a scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina.

"Those are three big players for us," Adams said. "They line up on offense and then play on defense."

Ledford will host a scrimmage next week on Friday in preparation for the 2017 season. The Panthers open the season Aug. 18 at home against Glenn.

Mike Duprez can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 218 or sports@the-dispatch.com. Follow Mike on Twitter@LexDispatch_md.

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